The next day, the competitors advanced in spread-out groups and crossed an area of bamboo forest. A Suzuki driven by one of the British teams had lost its four-wheel-drive capability and had to manage with only two-wheel drive. The Dutch team's Pinzgauer lost its windshield after a dangerous encounter with a tree trunk. Luckily, the driver stopped just in time to avoid having his throat nailed to the seat. The team continued with the windshield replaced by tie-downs across the frame to at least help protect them from the slashing of the branches; although the lack of a windshield left them completely unprotected from the relentless monsoon rains.
It was almost completely dark when we finally saw the lead competitor's car arriving toward our press camp on the other side of the Elephant Bridge. Four days ago, our media convoy had arrived here and waited patiently for the competitors to emerge from the dense jungle. We watched the teams eventually arrive one by one as the rain pounded on.
In fact, due to the heavy rainstorms, the water level of the river had risen dangerously high, and it was therefore decided to cancel the last three SS events of the RFC. All vehicles (press, official, and competitor) were to depart straightaway and drive en masse to Kuala Terengganu where the award ceremony would take place that very evening.
The award ceremony and dinner banquet was a lavish affair hosted by the sultan and sultana of the State of Terengganu. After the sticky mud of the jungle, the festive dinner seemed like an oriental fantasy. We were given traditional silk Malaysian clothes to wear as T-shirts and jungle clothes were strictly prohibited in the presence of the sultan, although most of us still wore our muddy jungle boots - this was quite a contrast. Such a colorful celebration was a welcome respite after our ten long days in the green jungle and toffee-colored mud of Malaysia's Rain Forest Challenge.
Race ResultsChampionMalaysia (Jeep CJ-6)Tan Eng Joo/Lee Yit Kiang
Champion, Under 2,000ccUnited KingdomClive Paul Raymont/Malcolm Allan Burman
Champion, 2,000cc - 3,000cc (GASOLINE)MalaysiaTan Eng Joo/Lee Yit Kiang
Champion, 2,000cc - 3,000cc (Diesel)United KingdomAndrew James/Mark Chaplin/Shaun Paul Harris
Champion, Above 3,000ccMalaysiaChong Yoke Sang/Lee Kun Fatt
Team Spirit AwardPhilippinesHilario Mendiola/Sergio Jamila/Dennis Javier